So much goes into trying to gain the trust of players while also learning the administrative side of things, not to mention learning directions around campus, that installing an attitude and style of play often doesn't become effective until the second season.

Gavilan women's volleyball coach Kevin Kramer is counting on that. After leading the Rams to a 12-9 record and third-place finish in the Coast Conference in 2007, he has almost a completely new roster, but everything else is no longer new to him.

"Night and day difference," Kramer said about how he feels entering the season, which begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. when Gavilan hosts Feather River College. "Now I got a feel for the job and I can focus more on volleyball than what else is going on."

With the help of assistant coach Chris Spence, who Kramer said had a "huge role" in bringing new talent to the squad, the Rams are hoping to almost double their win total from a season ago. In the process, they'd also like to capture a Coast Conference title.

"There's no reason why we shouldn't be competing for a conference championship," Kramer said. "Twenty wins is something we're talking about, too. A trip to the playoffs would be the bare minimum."

Without last year's league MVP, outside hitter Jamie Temperino, who signed a National Letter of Intent with East Carolina in April, the Rams will be relying on just three returning sophomores to go with six incoming freshmen. All-Coast Conference returner Teresa Hodges will most likely assume Temperino's role as Gavilan's best attacker.

However, Kramer said he isn't expecting just one player to pick up the slack.

"I don't know if you can replace [Temperino]," Kramer said. "I don't know if you have one player that takes her spot. The nice thing about this team is everybody is going to contribute. We'll have five girls that can put the ball away and one player that can dig it out."

Two freshmen who are expected to contribute immediately, and will be familiar faces to those who have followed the local high school volleyball scene over the last few years, are San Benito grad Bri Romero and Vanessa Wilkins of Gilroy.

"Bri Romero is just all-around," Kramer said. "She's as good as any [junior college] volleyball player (in the area)."

As for Wilkins, who sat out from playing with the Mustangs last year, Kramer thinks her natural athleticism should allow her to get back in the groove easily. "She didn't play last year, but you wouldn't know it," he said.

Other newcomers include Liz Hermosillo and Arica Hernandez of Live Oak, Tessa Fischer of Gilroy and Cheyenne Hambey from Watsonville. Jamie Skocko and Nicole Falcao are the remaining sophomores along with Hodges.

With only nine players on the roster, everyone should see extensive playing time.

"Yeah, there's six starters on the court, but all nine of them will play," Kramer said. "It will be very rare for any of the girls to sit an entire game."

The first test will come Friday against Feather River, a tall team Gavilan saw this past weekend while playing in scrimmages at Foothill College. But in Kramer's eyes, the only limitations the Rams will have this season is those they impose on themselves.

"As long as we do what we're supposed to do," he said, "I don't think there's a team we can't compete with."